The Osceola times., 1887-02-19

tremulous and sore-tha roar of some
invisible storm penetrarcs his brain.
Slowly he moves. Ha! 4 smooth spotl
He is going down. down TO his doow.l
Susie utters wild cry an'i sinks to tei
knees, with an awful sense of horror in
her heart. Even then a noosed rope 10
flung over the sharp roof, but it, comes
too late, too late! Susie's blue eyes ar,
coyered-she waits the aw full sound oi
the death-fall, waits and stiD waits. 1
does not come.
Once more she dares 70 look. o.
the verge, his feet dangling above tn,
awful abyss, is the doomcsl youth.
mans face appears above the ridge full
thirty feet distant, anti his hane
clutches rope. at one end OF which Is
large moose. This goes down, down,
with slow precision. and rlally touches
the brown curls of HurloclI. His hands
clinch the last row Of slate; he hangs
half over the caves, clingiu g with death
like tenacity.
That moment Dan Hurlock suffered
ten thousand deaths. An awful sense
of the great height masters him, and
drops of sweat almost like hearts blood
ooze from his clammy face And then
the touch of the rope thrills tc, his mar
row. He realizes that one Is above,
come to his rescue, and yet 1T can be OF
no avail.
II he releases one hand to seize the
rope, that instant he will 60 over into
space. He is barely able with both
hands to cling to his perch, and oh.
h, W weak and faint he feels in that ter
riL moment of bitter suspense.
"The rope-can you not grasp itP
Nop Well. raise yo,ir head, and will
drop it over"
Dan Huriock hears the words. but he
can not obey. He da re not utter word.
even to attempt it would hurl him to
eternity he believc,I The rope slides
against the youths head as the man
above urges action. All! to lift his face
an inch would seal Dan Hurlock' fate.
How tired his arms, his limbs. His
hands are blistered; they are becoming
moist, and begin to lose their tenacious
grip-they are slipping! He movesl
he is going over; he is lost! A touch
against his cheek. lie opens his lips
to utter a gasping cry; something fills
them-the rope! His teeth close about
the hempen cord; his jaws have not
been weakened. As the weak, moist
hand slip away. Dan Hurlock hangs
swaying, with firm clasp of the teeth
in the rope, and this alone saves him.
Not long thus, then he thrusts an arm
through the moose that quickly closes
about it at the shoulder, tightening
with biting grip; then all strength
forsakes the young climber; the world
is swept away in black unconscious
ness. A long quivering cry from
across the court.
Susie Slayne has witnessed all, and
when she realizes that Dan Hurlock 10
safe, she sinks speechless to low
chair. The touch Of tiny point against
her cheek rouses her. Susie turns hei
face, and there, on the back of her
chair, sits Red Dan, his head bent
aside, one eye half closed. looking as
wise and solemn as an owl.
"Oh, you wicked birdr'
Up springs Susie, abustle with new
life and activity, although it will be
many days before she RECEIVERS from
the shock Of that ten minutes awful ex.
perience. Red Dan goes back into
his cage, and an hour later, when
the teacher from the opposite win.
dow assures her that Dan il
alive and doing well, though yet
very weak. Susie smiles and assures
herself that she is happy. 1t was an
awful experience, however, one thai
will always be remembered with
shudder The lovers quarrel that had
separated Dan Hurlock and Susie weeks
before, happily eliminated with Red
Dams escapade, and the reader may be
sure the quarrel was never renewed